Números 31
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Números 31
NJB (MT versing) The Slaughter of Midian Vengeance on the Midianites Holy War Against Midian (30:16-31:54) The Holy War Against Midian The Holy War Against Midian 31:1-12 31:1-11 31:1-12 31:1-2 31:1-2 31:3-4 31:3-4 31:5-8 31:5-6 31:7-12 Return From the War 31:9-12 31:12-20 The Army Returns The Slaughter of the Women and Purification 31:13-20 31:13-20 31:13-20 31:13-20 31:21-24 31:21-24 31:21-24 31:21-24 31:21-23 31:24 Division of the Booty Division of the Plunder Division of the Loot The Allocation of the Booty 31:25-31 31:25-31 31:25-30 31:25-31 31:25 31:26-30 31:31 31:31-41 31:32-35 31:32-41 31:32-35 31:32-41 31:36-41 31:36-41 31:42-47 31:42-47 31:42-47 31:42-47 31:42-47 The Offerings 31:48-54 31:48-54 31:48-54 31:48-54 31:48-52 31:53-54 Etc.
Números 31:1-12
31:2 "Take full vengeance" This VERB (BDB 667, KB 721, Qal IMPERATIVE) relates to YHWH's justice against the Midianites for being involved in the purposeful trap of involving Israel's fertility worship at Peor (cf. Num. 25:1-3,16-18). Notice the VERB is followed by the NOUN of the same root (BDB 668), a COGNATE ACCUSATIVE for emphasis. What Moab and Midian desired for Israel is now given to them. ▣ "afterward you will be gathered to your people" This refers to the imminent death of Moses (cf. Num. 27:12-14), which is related to his disobedience at Num. 20:8-13,24. In the OT, at death people went to the holding place of the dead (i.e., Sheol, see SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD?) to await resurrection/judgment day (cf. Isa. 25:8; 26:19; Ezek. 37:12-14; Dan. 12:2). It was a gloomy, silent existence. Only with the progressive revelation of the NT does the picture become clearer. Often in the OT the afterlife is expressed by the idiom "slept with their fathers." This does not imply an unconscious state but a gathering of the family. 31:2-4 Moses directs a portion of the army (i.e., one thousand or one military unit from each tribe). See SPECIAL TOPIC: THOUSAND (eleph). arm men ‒ BDB 323, KB 321, Niphal IMPERATIVE go against Midian ‒ BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense 31:3 "Arm men from among you for war" This VERB (BDB 323 II, KB 321, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) seems to mean "conscript." Apparently these were not professional soldiers but just men of the different tribes (like Gideon's men in Judges 7). 31:6 Then Phinehas, the zealous priest from Numbers 25, went into battle with them (i.e., symbol of YHWH's presence and power with them). He took with him "the holy vessels," which may refer to the ark of the covenant (cf. Num. 10:35-36; 14:44; Josh. 6:6-7; 1 Sam. 4:3-11; see SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT) JPSOA footnote, following Targums, cf. Num. 27:21, the Urim, cf. Num. 27:21; 1 Sam. 14:41; 28:6 the silver trumpets, cf. Josh 6:6-7 The trumpets, which refers to the silver trumpets of Num. 10:1-10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL) 31:7-12 This was YHWH's war against Midian but it was not "holy war," as Jericho was, where everything that breathed was killed and all the spoils belonged to YHWH (i.e., "under the ban"). See SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE (OT) and Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, pp. 258-267. Here, only selected people were put to the sword. the kings (five are listed by name, which is a very specific historical detail) every male of fighting age (in Israel that would be 20 years old and above) Balaam is killed (cf. Num. 31:16) because apparently he was part of the purposeful plan to involve Israel in fertility worship so YHWH would judge them. Why Balaam is with the Midianites is not stated. Numbers 31:16 is the most negative verse about Balaam in all this context (i.e., chapters 22-24). Everyone was not killed (v. 11). all women all children all animals This was not a complete destruction of Midian because they reappear in great numbers in Judges 6.
Números 31:13-20
31:13-20 "Moses and Eleazar" It seems from v. 6 that Phinehas, the zealous priest, was with the Israelite soldiers and was part of the decision-making process that allowed some to be spared. But Moses, Eleazar, and the tribal leadership were angry at the Midian women for their purposeful participation in the trickery of Peor (v. 16). For this reason a "partial holy war" judgment was issued against all married women or those involved in fertility worship all the male children What a gruesome scene this must have been (i.e., ritual slaughter). This is so offensive to modern western individualism. But remember this is a theocratic, monotheistic community surrounded by pagan polytheism. Preventing the spiritual corruption of the covenant people was crucial. YHWH's love for all will later be expressed in the Messiah (cf. Isaiah 53; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). 31:16 NASB, NKJV "trespass" "act treacherously" TEV, NJB "to be unfaithful" "disloyalty" This VERB (BDB 588, KB 608, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) is used twice in this chapter (only in this chapter) with very different senses. Num. 31:5 ‒ "provided," "selected," or "assigned to" Num. 31:6 ‒ KB, "to become the occasion for apostasy " Num. 31:6 ‒ BDB, "offer (commit) a trespass against" 31:18 All the virgins were spared and incorporated into Israel (i.e., Deut. 20:14; 21:10-14). This, like Rahab and Ruth, shows Israel was not primarily an ethnic focus but a religious focus. The initial promise was to Abraham and his seed, but the NT shows the purposeful widening of the inclusion (i.e, Rom. 2:8, 29; Gal. 3:23-29; 4:12-31; Eph. 2:11-22; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN and SPECIAL TOPIC: OT PREDICTIONS OF THE FUTURE VS. NT PREDICTIONS.
Números 31:21-24
31:21-24 The spoils of war must be cleansed (Num. 31:23) by fire by the water of the red heifer's ashes by washing their clothes (Num. 31:24) shared with the priests and Levites (Num. 31:28) 31:21 "the statute of the law" See SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION. 31:23 "fire" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FIRE. ▣ "purified with water" This seems to refer to the ashes of the Red Heifer (cf. Num. 19:1-10).
Números 31:25-31
31:25-31 This is a discussion of a percentage of the spoils that belongs to the tribe of Levi (i.e., priest, v. 4 and Levites, v. 47). It was a symbolic way of acknowledging that the victory was YHWH's victory! Notice that the Levites received much more than the priests. This must mean there were many more Levites than priests. Only the family of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam were priests. All the other Levite families were Levites who serve the Tabernacle and the priests.
Números 31:36-41
31:40 It is unstated how the virgins dedicated to YHWH were used. wives of priests (normally priests married from tribe of Levi) servants at the temple (i.e., Exod. 38:8; 1 Sam. 2:22)
Números 31:48-54
31:48-54 The military leaders informed Moses that during the military action against Midian not one Israeli soldier was killed. In gratitude and recognition of YHWH's power/mercy, they wanted to give an extra gift from the spoils to YHWH. It became a "memorial" in the Tabernacle. 31:50 The voluntary gifts of precious metals were to make atonement for the slaughter of so many people. They felt guilty being in contact with dead bodies. This is one of the very few OT examples of a non-bloody, atonement sacrifice. 31:52 The amount of gold is shocking, as are all the numbers in the latter part of this chapter. One wonders if it is literal it is symbolic it is textual error Even the NET Bible, p. 328, is uncomfortable with these large numbers, "Until a solution for numbers in the book can be found, or the current translation confirmed, one must remain cautious in interpretation." These large numbers were a cultural (ANE) way to show the power of Israel's God (i.e., Jdgs. 7:2-8). The victory was not the 12,000 of Israel but the wrath of God on Midian's evil schemes and lifestyle choices. The religious purity of Israel was the main issue.